Washboard-protector.



F. W. BECKER.

WASHBOARD PROTECTOR.

APPLICATION FILED IAN.27, 1916.

Patented Nov. 7, 1916.

Svwewfoz nun 1 l i l n FFEQEQ WASHBOARD-IPROTECTOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. '7, 1916.

Application filed January 27, 1916. Serial No. 74,638.

improvements in washboards and the pri-.

mary object of the invention is to proyide a washboard with a protector plate that is positioned adjacent the top of the board and projects angularly from the washingsurface of the same, so that when in use, the plate will protect the user from being splashed. Y

Another object ofthe invention is to provide a new and improved attachment of this character which embodies a protector plate that is hingedly and resiliently connected with said board so that the plate is adapted to move downwardly to conform with the movement of the users body, and also will return to its original position when released.

A further object of the invention is to provide a washboard that is provided with a new and improved protector plate so connected that the same will be readily removable from the board, and also that may be easily and simply secured in operative or inoperative position.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a device of this character which is simple and durable in construction, inexpensive to manufacture, and one which will be very efficient in operation.

With these and numerous other objects in view, my invention consists of the novel features of construction, and the combination and arrangement of parts which will hereinafter be more particularly pointed out in the specification and claims.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is a plan view of the upper section of a portion of the washboard showing my protector plate applied thereto and held in operative position; Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same, showing in full lines the. plate held in operative position, and in dotted lines the position of the same when locked flat against the upper surface of the board; Fig. 3 is a central vertical longitudinal section taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1; and Fig. 4; is a detail perspective view of the protector plate and rod to which it is secured.

In describing my invention I shall refer to the drawings in which similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views and in which the numeral 1 designates a washboard of the ordinary type having side bars 2 which have alining transversely extending notches 3 in the same adjacent their upper ends. The washboard 1 is provided with a top 4: such as is commonly used in a device of this character and the said top 4 has projecting from either side of the same, headed studs 5 which are positioned adjacent the forward outer end of the same for a purpose to be hereinafter more fully described. The side bars 2 have positioned in their outer surface, correspondingly sized projecting headed studs 6 which are disposed therein a predetermined distance below the notches 3 in the upper surfaces of said bars.

The protector plate which I employ in my invention and which is clearly shown in Fig.- 4. of the drawings comprises a substantially rectangular flat metal plate 7 which has one side 8 coiled around and rigidly secured to a rod 9. This rod 9 is slightly wider than the plate 7 and projects therefrom at either side, the projecting portion of the rod 9 being adapted to form pintles 10, and the ex tremities of said rod being bent laterally and disposed in substantially parallel relation as shown at 11, with loops 12 formed thereon.

The pintle portions 10 of the rod 9 are adapted to be positioned in the notches 3 in the side bars 2 of the washboard, and the plate 7 will therefore be positioned between the said side bars while the laterally bent extremities 11 of the rod will project from the side bars and will act as cranks as will be hereinafter more fully described. The rod 9 has its pintle portions 10 adapted to be removably positioned in the notches 3 through the medium of pivoted finger pieces 13, which are pivotally mounted on the side bars below said notches and are adapted to swing over the same when the rod is positioned therein.

The extremities 11, or cranks, which are provided with looped outer ends 12, have secured thereto through said looped ends, coil springs 14 which are securely fastened to the same, and have their free ends 15 bent to form eyes adapted to engage the "studs that project from the outer surfaces of the side bars and top members of the washboard.

By the above described structure, when it is desired to apply this protector plate to a washboard, the rod 9 is positioned with respect to the same, so that the pintle portions will be disposed in the notches 3,

- whereupon the finger pieces 18 are sprung into locked position so that the said portions will be held therein. By this arrangement it will be obvious that the plate 7 will be positioned betweenthe notched portions of the side bars 2, and will be adapted to project angularly from the board when swung in position. The plate is adapted to be held in said angular position by positioning the cranks 11 on the extremities of the rod downwardly and connecting the coil springs i l-on the lower end of thesame with the studs 6 that project from the side bars. By

be in position to prevent any water from.

splashing upwardly and along theboard and thereby soiling the users clothes. Immediately upon the user straightening up, the plate will swing back to its original position at right angles to the board.

The positioning of the plate 7 at right angles to the board would make this attachment very cumbersome in moving the same around, so that when it is not desired to remove the plate entirely from the board,

yet to move the board, I provide a means for holding the said plate'flat against the upper surface of the same, as clearly shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2 of the'drawings. 'lhispositioning is brought about by releasing the tree endsof the coil springsll from out of engagement with the studs 6, and

swinging the cranks 11 upwardly until the outer loopedends of the same are in horizontal 'alinement with the studs 5 on the upper portion 4 of the board, whereupon the free ends of thespri'ngs are connected with said studs 5 and the plate will be securely held fiat against said board. Theplate will be swung down owing to therigid connection between the side of the same and the rod 9, and the above described positioning will securely hold the same in position whereby the board may be readily moved about without the projecting plate being in the way. The studs 5 and 6 that project from the upper portion 4 and'the side bars 2 of the board are positioned on opposite sides past the center of the pintle portions 10 of the rod 9 for the obvious purpose of holding the plate in thetwo positions above described, when the springs are engaged with either'of the'studs-5-or 6. VJ hen it is desired to remove this plate entirely from the board, it is only necessary to swing the finger pieces 13 out of position from over the notches 3, whereupon therod 9 may be easily removed, and the plate taken thererrom. I

From the foregoing description of the construction of my improved device, the manner of applying the same't'o use and the operation thereof will be readily understood, and it will be seen that I haveprovided a simple inexpensive means for carrying out the objects of this invention.

1 claim as my invention: 1. The combination with a'washboard having bearings in its side bars adjacent the top; of a protector plate with pintles disposed in said bearings, cranks on said pintles adapted to be swung from beneath said pintles to above the same adjacent the top upon movement of the plate from an angle to the board to flush with the same, studs at the ends of the side bars and said top past opposite sides'of the center of the bearings, and coiled springs on the ends of said cranks adapted for alternate engagement with the studs on said side bars or top to hold the plate either at an angle or'flush studs.

3. The combination with a washboard having alined transversely extendlng notches in its side bars, of a rod extending transversely across said'bar and positioned in said notches, means for removably securing said rod theieimfthe opposite ends ofsaid rod projecting from the side barswith'their extremities bent laterally and lying parallel In testimony whereof I have hereunto set to form cranks, a substantially rectangular my hand in presence of tWo subscribing Witshaped protector plate having one side surnesses.

rounding the said rod between the portions FRIEDERICH WILLIAM BECKER. of the same positioned in the notches, studs WVitnesses:

on said side bars, and coil springs adapted G120. E. REYNOLDS,

to connect said cranks and studs. FRANK J. HUBER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G. 

